Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.
New FMS reform will see DSCA moved under acquisition chief
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning to soon announce a key reform to the U.S. foreign military sales process that will move the Defense Security Cooperation Agency out from under the purview of the Pentagon's policy shop and place it under the supervision of the acquisition chief, according to several sources.
L3Harris CEO says shutdown is 'definitely impacting the timing of awards'
The government shutdown, in its 30th day as of Thursday, is "clearly the challenge" facing defense contractor L3Harris, and is "definitely impacting the timing of awards," according to CEO Chris Kubasik.
Future submarine contract negotiations not currently impacted by shutdown, HII CEO says
The ongoing government shutdown and subsequent federal worker furloughs have not impacted negotiations for impending block VI Virginia-class submarines and Columbia-class contracts, according to HII CEO Chris Kastner.
DOD hands Oshkosh $25 million for JLTV software access
Despite losing out on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program more than two years ago, Oshkosh has won an additional $25 million from the Pentagon in exchange for access to intellectual property related to the JLTV, according to company leaders.
Boeing 'accelerating' efforts to permanently replace striking workers in St. Louis
After a nearly three-month stalemate between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the company is now intensifying plans to hire permanent replacement workers across several of its production facilities in the St. Louis area, according to an internal memo obtained by Inside Defense.
Senators appear receptive to SHIPS Act, express concern for state of domestic shipbuilding
Senators expressed bipartisan support last week for a rebuild of the domestic commercial shipbuilding industry -- a goal that could be supported by the SHIPS Act, currently working its way through the Senate Commerce Committee.
Naval Submarine League cancels annual symposium
The Naval Submarine League has canceled its annual symposium and industry update, saying many of the uniformed and civilian military personnel scheduled to appear at the November event are unable to attend due to the government shutdown.
HII jointly pursuing auxiliary vessel work with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
Shipbuilder HII will jointly pursue work on the Navy's Next-generation Logistics Ship program together with South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries as the two companies look to expand their international collaboration.
Rare earth magnet company, critical mineral refinery strike $1.4B deal with Pentagon, Commerce Department
North Carolina-based rare earth magnet maker Vulcan Elements and critical mineral refinery ReElement are teaming up with the federal government on a $1.4 billion partnership to scale the companies' fully domestic rare earth magnet supply chain, Vulcan announced this week.
In new minerals deal, U.S. eyes price floors to counter unfair practices
In newly signed critical minerals agreements with Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia, the U.S. has secured commitments to combat unfair and nonmarket trading practices via pricing measures, with the texts of all but the Japan deal referring specifically to the use of price floors.
Leonardo DRS CEO to retire
Leonardo DRS CEO Bill Lynn will retire as chairman and chief executive officer, the company announced last week.
The week ahead
Congress will consider key defense nominees this week, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is slated to speak about acquisition reform with key defense company leaders.
DOD pushing forward on decade-long modernization at key missile defense test site
The Defense Department, flush with cash from Congress, is moving ahead with a decade-long effort to modernize the Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands, a key hub for U.S. missile defense testing.
Ten-year fighter plan is aspirational without money to back it up, Air Force says
If the Air Force is going to have a fighter force with "low" operational risk by 2035, as it detailed in a recent report, the government is going to need to figure out a way to pick up the tab for about 400 more jets, a service official told Inside Defense.
Retired SMDC boss brings real-world nuclear command experience to Netflix thriller
When the director of “A House of Dynamite” -- the new Netflix nuclear thriller -- began preparing to shoot scenes depicting U.S. Strategic Command, she wanted every blinking light, console switch and dialogue to ring true.